View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which country invaded Tibet, causing the Dalai Lama to go into exile in India?

2. Which famous researcher whose work focused on emotions does Abrams cite in Part I?

3. What neuropsychiatrist's work does Abrams quote in Part II about anger?

4. Who is the South African leader Tutu speaks admiringly of and at length in Part I?

5. Which researcher found that mild sadness can have some surprising benefits?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part I, what kind of creatures does Archbishop Tutu tell Abrams humans are?

2. In Part II, what distinction does Archbishop Tutu draw between hope and optimism?

3. In Part II, what is the main difference between how the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu advise people to handle feelings of envy?

4. In Part I, what does Archbishop Tutu say ultimately leads to people's greatest experiences of joy?

5. In Part II, what does Archbishop Tutu advise for people who become frustrated and encounter obstacles to finding joy?

6. In Part I, how does Abrams explain the so-called hedonic treadmill?

7. In Part II, what is the meaning of Archbishop Tutu's phrase "you are a masterpiece in the making" (92)?

8. In the Introduction, what distinction does Tutu make between joy and happiness?

9. In Part II, what does the Dalai Lama say that stress and anxiety in modern life are often caused by?

10. In the Introduction, why does Abrams say Archbishop Tutu might not have been able to travel to take part in the talks that made up the material for the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Are the Dalai Lama's and Archbishop Desmond Tutu's teachings about forgiveness - and the human capacity for forgiveness - realistic? Write an essay explaining your opinion, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does analytical meditation, as the Dalai Lama explains it, differ from meditation in general? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What are some of the connections and parallels Archbishop Tutu makes between South Africa's struggles and the struggles of Tibetans living in exile in India? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 738 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample